Television presenter Nick Knowles has spoken candidly about the terrifying moment his wife, Katie, was rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery just eight weeks ago.
The DIY SOS star, 63, admitted he was "petrified" when his 35-year-old wife suffered severe complications following a hysterectomy she underwent in July.
A Harrowing Health Emergency
Katie, a lingerie business owner and mother-of-two, required the emergency operation after stitches from her initial procedure ruptured. This critical incident occurred in September, mere months into her recovery, causing internal bleeding, intense pain, and bringing her close to losing consciousness.
Nick recounted the frightening experience, stating, "For Katie to be three months into her recovery, and for it to fail and her to then have to go in for life-saving surgery... that was the one that was really frightening." A team of six surgeons performed the operation, with initial fears that her bowel had been perforated.
Katie's Long Road with Chronic Pain
The emergency surgery came after Katie's decision to have a hysterectomy—a procedure to remove the womb—following years of battling debilitating pain from PCOS, endometriosis, and adenomyosis.
She has bravely shared her story with fans, describing a life defined by suffering: "It was constant hospital trips. Multiple laparoscopies. Bleeding through clothes. Vomiting from the pain. Being curled up in bed, missing out on life." She explained that the decision to have the surgery at 35 was a conscious choice to "take my life back" from the conditions that had left her merely "surviving."
A Cautious Recovery and Unwavering Support
Now, two months after the emergency, Nick has provided an update on his wife's recovery. He revealed that Katie had "pushed herself too far" after the initial hysterectomy and that they are now having to be "very careful" with her ongoing healing process.
He expressed immense pride in her courage to speak out about such a personal and traumatising experience. "I don’t think anything I ever go through will be a scratch on the surface of what she has been through in the last six months," Nick told The Sun. "She has been amazing."
He also highlighted the additional challenge of Katie being thrust into surgical menopause at a young age, describing the process as "really brutal."
The couple, who faced public scrutiny over their 27-year age gap, were married in a lavish ceremony at Braxted Park in Essex last September. Despite the recent health scare, Nick's focus remains firmly on his wife's wellbeing and her courageous journey back to health.
